WOOD DALE, Ill., April 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AAR CORP. (NYSE: AIR)announced today that The Boeing Company has issued a Multi Operator Message('MOM') to its 707, 747, 757 and 767 customers, dated April 8, 2008,referencing the FAA South Florida FSDO notice (UPN No. 2008-S2008 0110024)issued on March 25, 2008 ('FAA Notice') regarding enamel paint applied by AARto the inside surfaces of the respective aircraft main landing gear ('MGL')truck beams.
The MOM reconfirms the enamel applied by AAR as a top coat to the innerdiameter of landing gear truck beams '...to be equivalent to drawing finishrequirements and can be considered acceptable subject to all other standardoverhaul processes and applicable CMM [Component Maintenance Manual]instructions being followed at the time of the overhaul.'
Boeing also stated in the MOM that while the preferred finishing methoddescribed in the applicable truck beam CMMs for 747, 757 and 767 aircraft doesnot require an enamel top coat '...the presence of enamel top coat is notdetrimental and is equivalent to the design finish and hence type design.' forthese aircraft models. They further stated that 'For all 707 model aircraft,the design finish scheme [described in the 707 CMM] includes both primer andenamel paint in the inner diameter of the truck beam'. Accordingly, a topcoat of enamel as used by AAR is required on the inner surface of 707 landinggear truck beams. In deference to Boeing's preferred finishing method, AARLanding Gear Services discontinued applying the enamel top coat to internaltruck beam surfaces of 747,757 and 767 landing gear earlier this year.
FAA approval of enamel coating on MGL truck beam inner surfaces isavailable through the issuance of an FAA Form 8100-9 upon customer request toBoeing. The FAA is reviewing the Boeing top coating equivalency determinationin the MOM for its effect on the UPN. The Company expects no contingentliability or financial penalties related to the FAA Notice.
AAR, which has been operating FAA approved Repair Stations since 1968, andits over 6,100 employees are committed to complying with high industrystandards and regulatory requirements which are designed to ensure the safetyof the flying public. AAR has and will continue to work diligently withBoeing and the FAA to clarify and resolve this issue with out disruption toits customers.
AAR is a leading provider of products and value-added services to theworldwide aerospace and defense industry. With facilities and sales locationsaround the world, AAR uses its close-to-the-customer business model to serveaviation and defense customers through four operating segments: AviationSupply Chain; Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul; Structures and Systems; andAircraft Sales and Leasing. More information can be found athttp://www.aarcorp.com.
This press release contains certain statements relating to future results,which are forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the PrivateSecurities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statementsare based on beliefs of Company management, as well as assumptions andestimates based on information currently available to the Company, and aresubject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results todiffer materially from historical results or those anticipated, includingthose factors discussed under Item 1A, entitled 'Risk Factors', included inthe Company's May 31, 2007 Form 10-K. Should one or more of these risks oruncertainties materialize adversely, or should underlying assumptions orestimates prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from thosedescribed. These events and uncertainties are difficult or impossible topredict accurately and many are beyond the Company's control. The Companyassumes no obligation to publicly release the result of any revisions that maybe made to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstancesafter the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipatedor unanticipated events. For additional information, see the commentsincluded in AAR's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
SOURCE AAR CORP.
